Proverbs 5:15 15. Drink the waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

[A] If you remember, Solomon began this chapter telling his son to stay away from strange women - admonishing him to listen to the wisdom he was teaching and to refuse to do any sin

[B] Drink the waters out of thine own cistern, [1] Here we find Solomon continuing in his lessons, telling his son - telling us to drink from our own cistern [2] Drink from thine own cistern certainly means to be content with your own husband or wife, and not drink from another man’s or woman’s cistern, not to have sexual dealing with anyone other than the one you are married too. [3] There is a deeper meaning as well [a] Not only should a person be content with their wife or husband, they should also be content with everything God has allowed them to have [b] Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. [c] Deuteronomy 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's. [1-a] We are to be content with what we have, and not covet what another has [2-a] We are to drink the water from our own cistern, and leave another’s cistern alone

[C] And running waters out of thine own well [1] This statement is about using the things God has given us, the running water that flows forth freely [2] There are so many things God gives us, things we do not have to struggle for, and yet in many cases we are not satisfied with what we have. [a] To borrow a statement a young man once told me, “the grass always looks greener on the other side, but when you get there, you find out that you still have to mow it.

Proverbs 5:16-17 16. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.

[A] What these verses are saying to us, is this [1] Unless you are married to a person, do not have sexual relations with them [2] The only time it is OK to have a sexual encounter is when the person is thine own, when the person is joined to you in Holy Matrimony [a] 1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

[B] Broader meaning [1] Nothing in the world is worth committing sin over [2] When one starts to covet and lust in their heart, all reasoning goes out the window [a] Often the desire to have something is so great that a person is willing to do anything imaginable to obtain what they want [b] Instead of wanting things, we should be content with the things God has allowed us to have. If there is a need for more, ask God and he will supply your needs to you.

Proverbs 5:18 18. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

[A] Let thy fountain be blessed [1] When one learns to be content with what they have, they will be blessed [2] Happiness does not come by having everything you want, instead it comes by appreciating what you have

[B] Rejoice with the wife of thy youth [1] When a man chooses a woman - or a woman chooses a man, they need to carefully consider what they are doing [a] Divorce should never be considered unless all other alternatives have been expended [b] Divorce should never be considered unless it is biblically based [1-a] Jesus said is was OK when there was marital involved [2-a] Paul taught is a man or woman was not a sinner and desired to leave a faithful follower, that OK, but even so the believer was not to leave if the non believer wanted to remain Married [2] When a couple is married, they are to enjoy each other’s company, share in each other’s misery, and rejoice with each other in all things [a] I have never understood how a couple can be married for years, and all is well, and all at once, one of they decides that they no longer want to be married - What is the reason for this? [b] What makes a person start looking around at others after being married to someone for years? [c] What does another person have that your own mate does not have? [d] If there is a problem in a marriage, why doesn’t the couple seek help? [e] Why are people so eager to get a divorce? [f] Why can’t they rejoice with the wife or husband of their youth? [3] Let him that is married take delight in her husband or his wife, and let them be very fond of them, not only because he or she is the mate they them himself chose and they ought to be pleased with their own choice, but also because their mate is he or she that God in his providence appointed for them and they ought to be pleased and content with the divine appointment.

Proverbs 5:19 19. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

[A] We are attracted to our mate for whatever reason, [1] His or her looks, [2] Their personality [3] Their faith in God [4] Numerous other reason

[B] Before we wed, we should realize that we will all age, and change in appearance, [1] We gain weight [2] Our hair falls out [3] Other characteristics change

[C] Never the less, the person we are married too when we get older is the same person we married when we were young. [1] Solomon says the man should look at his bride, and remember her as she was, and realize that she is the same Person [2] We are to be satisfied with our mate, and allow them to please us, they might have changed, but we have changed as well

[D] When we are content with what we have, with the person God gave us, we will be content with life, and be totally satisfied with them, as we are ravished with their love [1] As one grows older, one realizes that the physical aspects of marriage are not as important as just being with the person, and having a relationship with them. [2] Your mate is or should be your best friend, and someone you can share your deepest secrets with

Proverbs 5:20 20. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

[A] This is a very good question [1] Why would a man or a woman, develop a relationship with another when they have a mate at home [2] What does another man have that their husband doesn’t? [3] What does another woman have that their wife doesn’t?

[B] What if anything, cannot be worked out among two people if they are both willing to try

Proverbs 5:21 21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

[A] What is Solomon saying here [1] Beware - God is always watching [2] Beware - God knows what you are doing and why [3] Beware - you might justify your actions in your heart, but God knows why and what you are doing

[B] There is no man, and not woman worth going to hell over [1] Why can’t a person be content whit the husband or wife of their youth [2] Why doesn’t a couple consider what life will be like before they get married [3] Why has sexual sins, become so commonplace that even the church does not rebuke them

Proverbs 5:22 22. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

[A] Most people who follow unlawful pleasures, think they can give them up whenever they please; but sin repeated becomes customary; custom soon engenders habit; and habit in the end assumes the form of necessity; the man becomes bound with his own cords, and so is led captive by the devil at his will.

[B] We all sin and come short of the glory of God, but to sin habitually, is endangering ones soul to eternal hell

Proverbs 5:23 23. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

[A] He shall die without instruction [1] Literally, "in want of instruction," having refused it [2] He will die in his sins [3] Unless he or she repents and turns from their wickedness, they will be eternally punished in hell - separated from God - lost

[B] In the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. [1] What he or she thinks they are gaining or enjoying now, will haunt them for all eternity [2] Unless there is conversion, and a coming to the Lord, they will be lost - led down the path of destruction by Satan, deceived into believing all is well when in truth, they are lost

[C] A young lady I spoke to about her living in sin with a man, told me that if she would not get married until she determined she could live with the man. I asked her what if she were to die, according to the bible she would be lost and spend her eternity in hell. Her answer was, if I go to hell, I’ll be in charge in a day or two. I told her she was wrong, but she is still living in sin, and refused to change her lifestyle. She is living in her folly, and in on the path to go astray.

Proverbs 6:1-5 1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2. Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Verse one [A] If thou be surety for thy friend [1] A Surety is one who becomes responsible for another [2] Somebody who pledges that another's obligations will be met in case of default [3] Someone who pledges themselves to another, [4] A guarantee, or unwritten contract

[B] If thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger [1] If you have shook hands on it [2] If you have made a binding agreement with someone

Verse two [A] Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth [1] Those things you agreed too is binding [2] Those things you said you would do, is expected of you [3] Because you shook on it, and said you would do it, you are obligated to do it.

[B] Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth [1] What we say here on earth, the agreements we make with another is bound in heaven [2] We may break our word to man, but God has it recorded in his books as well [3] For this reason, we should always be careful what we agree too, and to what we affirm ourselves. [a] James 4: 14-15 14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. [b] There is no way for us as an individual to know what tomorrow will bring, [1-a] We should not commit ourselves to something when we cannot know for sure what will take Place [2-a] James teaches that we should always say, If it’s God’s will then I will [c] When we are making an agreement, we should first go to God and seek him, determining if it is something he desired for us to do [d] When we make an agreement with someone, with our without the blessingsd of God we are under obligation to fulfill that agreement

Verse three - Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

[A] Solomon say when we have made an agreement - when we have promised ourselves, sold ourself to another, we are expected to fulfill that agreement

[B] When that person comes to us, and demands we fulfill what we agreed too, we are under obligation to do what we promised, willingly and humbly

[A] In other words, don’t put it off, what you agreed too is too important, what you agreed to is binding, and until it is completed, you should not rest

[B] The bottom line is a persons word is binding, and should not be spoken in vain

[C] What is agreed too is what you are to do, therefore before speaking one should be very careful as they prayerfully consider what they are getting themselves into

Verse five - Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

[A] What Solomon is telling us here is that we should not get into a situation where we are bound in the first place. [1] We should run as fast as we can like a roe or a deer from the hunter [2] We should fly away fast, like a bird from the hand of the fowler

[B] As we studied in the previous lesson, we should not allow ourselves to get into a predicament where me might be tempted to sin [1] We should also not get into a situation where we are selling ourselves to another [2] We should not allow ourselves to become bound to something we might not be able to fulfull